Report: Millennial Dads Want It All, But Struggle To Balance Work And Home
By A. Pawlowski for TODAY
Image via: gafamilyattorneys.com
When it comes to work-life balance, it seems the country's young fathers start out with great expectations that don't quite work out when they hit the corporate world.
Members of the Millennial generation — more than 80 million Americans ages 18 to 29 — are now starting families, with men and women eager to equally share responsibilities of raising a child and thrive in their careers. They're finding that goal is harder than they imagined.
"There are real challenges in young couples obtaining the types of relationships that they want," David Pedulla, a sociologist at University of Texas, told TODAY.
The issue is getting lots of attention after an article in The New York Times on Thursday declared "Millennial Men Aren't the Dads They Thought They'd Be."
"More than any generation before them, Millennials say they want 50/50 marriages. They want to do the same amount of childcare, they say they want to do the same amount of housework, and they both want to have careers that are equally important," said Claire Cain Miller, the author of the article.
It all seems possible in theory, but experts say the modern American workplace isn't up to date with the Millennial mindset. Policies like subsidized childcare, flexible schedules and paid leave have helped women, but men may find their careers suffering if they take advantage of the same perks.
"Often, if a man asks for something like paternity leave or to leave early, he's stigmatized. He might not get a promotion, he might not get a raise," Cain Miller
When faced with such challenges, young couples tend to go back to more old-fashioned gender roles, according to a study published in the American Sociological Review.
"When they run up against the reality of having really demanding work places and really demanding home lives, they tend to fall back on traditional and gender forms of relationships, where women are the primary homemaker and men are the primary bread winner," Pedulla said.
So how can young dads — and moms — have it all?
The ideals of the Millennials may clash with the realities of the workplace for now, but that may change as the country's young workers become policy makers a few years down the road.
"Millennials are already the largest generation in the American workforce. And so as they climb the executive ranks, they can shape policies that more accurately reflect the way they want to live their lives," Cain Miller said.
Millennial parents can take advantage of before and after school care and vacation care. So, how can child care facilities help millennial dads and moms struggling to balance work and home life? Daycare facilities can help parents supervise their children while learning at the same time. Check out caboosh.com.au to learn more.
In addition, the benefits that child care centers bring to millennial families include the following:
Make Children Happy: Kids can enjoy various activities in a daycare center. It’s also a great place to transition children for formal schooling. With structured activities like playtime, your child becomes happier and more interested in socializing and learning basic letters, numbers, and even including arts, music, and sports.
Safe And Secure Place: Child care centers have advanced security features to ensure the safety and security of children. This learning institution complies with safety standards, including building permits, sanitary inspection, and environmental guidelines.
Peace Of Mind: Millennial parents can be assured that their children are in good hands. Qualified, professional teachers take good care of children under their supervision.
Takeaway
Millennial dads usually struggle juggling things at work and family. While they can multitask, they have huge responsibilities that consume their time and energy. These things can draw them away from their family, causing emotional friction at home. But with the help of professionals and a solid support system, millennial dads can do it despite their busy schedules and be a hero in their children’s eyes.